Ismail Sabri: 680 arrested for MCO violations on Monday

PETALING JAYA: The police arrested 680 individuals for various violations under the current movement control order (MCO) on Monday (Feb 1), says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said during his daily Covid-19 briefing on Tuesday (Feb 2) that 630 were given compounds, while 49 individuals were remanded and one was granted bail.

The Senior Minister (Defence) said that of the 680,140 were arrested for travelling across borders without approval letters, 36 for not wearing face masks, 139 for failing to observe social distancing, and 155 for other offences. The figure also includes 80 premises that did not record details of their customers for contact tracing purposes.

"That is why there is a new suggestion to increase the penalties in order to reduce the incidence of SOP offences," Ismail Sabri added.

He also said that under Ops Benteng ongoing nationwide, 16 undocumented migrants and two skippers were arrested while six land vehicles were compounded.

He added that 800 individuals who returned from overseas were placed on mandatory quarantine at designated facilities across the country.

A total of 114,861 individuals have returned to the country from overseas from July 24 to Feb 1.

"Of that number, 8,367 individuals are currently undergoing mandatory quarantine at 78 hotels and 13 other premises, including national training institutes and private learning institutes across the country, ” he said.

Ismail Sabri added that on the other hand, 477 individuals were brought to the hospital for treatment while 106,017 individuals were allowed to be discharged.

At the same time, he said, 7,262 foreigners were screened for Covid-19 on Monday and 85 of them tested positive.

Cumulatively, 4,952 foreigners have tested positive for Covid-19 up to Feb 1 of this year while 268,080 have tested negative.

The current MCO has been extended to Feb 18, where interstate travel and social activities will not be allowed.

However, the economic sector will still remain open under stricter SOPs.